Watch movement for fancy watches



Feb. 4, 1936. H COLQMB 2,029,559

WATCH MOVEMENT FOR FANCY WATCHES Filed Aug. 5, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet llNVENTOR 0 LOM B Feb. 4,\ 1936. H COLMB 2,029,559

WATCH MOVEMENT FORA FANCY WATCHES Filed Aug. 5, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H.coLoMB WATCH MOVEMENT FOR FANCY WATCHES Filed Aug. 5, 1932 Sheets-SheetFeb. 4, 1936.

FfgilZL"u Patented Feb. 4, 1936 .lNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE ApplicationAugust 5, 1932, Serial No. 627,639 In Switzerland September 4, 1931 10Claims.

The present invention relates to a watch movement for fancy watchesespecially for Wrist watches Where the barrel meshes directly with thecenter wheel pinion.

6 According to the present invention the center wheel axis is out ofcenter and is placed with the barrel within one of the two divisionsseparated by a transverse center line of the movement. The axis of thehands is located on said l center line and a toothed cannon frictionallyfitted upon said center wheel pinion is provided for working the handsby means oi at least one cannon pinion carrying the minute-hand.

This arrangement has particular advantages.

l Applied to an elongated wrist watch it permits the location within theavailable space of a barrel, a train of gears, an escapement and arelatively large balance, all these for enlarging appreciably theavailable space, ordinarily very 2o limited, for the winding and thehand-setting gears.

In a fancy watch having the seconds axis on the longitudinal center linethe arrangement according to the present invention will be veryadvantageous and in the self-winding watches this arrangement allowsplacing the barrel at one or the ends of the movement and the drivingtrain and the escapement at the other end of the design to save thespace for putting in a powerful winding gear.

The annexed drawings show several working forms according to the presentinvention.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical plan View of an elongated movement 3%,-9 x 21millimetersaccording to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on line II-II in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar plan like that of Fig. 1 but for another workingform.

Fig. 4 is a section on line IV-IV in Fig. 2, Fig. 5 a section on lineV-V in Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 a section on line VI-VI in Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatical plan of a movement having the axle of theseconds on the longitudinal axis of the movement and having acylindrical escapement.

8 shows in plan and as far as is needed for clearness a movementaccording to the present invention and of the form called to-nneau.

Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 are diagrammatical plan views referring to thehand-setting gears and the minute work.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatical view of a detail which shall be explainedfurther on.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of a self-winding watch having the arrangementaccording to the invention.

Fig. 13 is a similar view of a watch having the second-hand axis on thelongitudinal axis of the movement, the showing of the swinging weightbeing omitted.

Fig. 14 is a section on the line ll-H-Il of the preceding gure and Fig.l5 is a section on the pivot axis of the swinging mass of the formsaccording to Fig. 12 l0 or 13.

Referring to the Figs. 1 and 2, the barrel A meshes with the centerwheel pinion a, to the axle of Which is also fixed the center wheel B.This axle is generally located at the center of a watch 16 movement orin a fancy watch it is situated at the intersection of the transverse orminor and the longitudinal or major axes. In the present invention thispinion is entirely displaced from the center. It is located on the lefthand side 20 of the plate I, if this plate is considered to be dividedinto two halves by the axis v -1v,

Two particular features of this construction permit the disposition onsaid plate of a barrel,

a driving gear, an escapement and a balance rela- 25 tively large so asto enlarge the space left for the winding and the hand-setting gears.The first feature consists in putting the center wheel out of the watchscenter in a longitudinal sense in order to put the barrel at the end ofthe 3U plate and the second feature is the transverse displacement whichmakes it possible to solve the problem. Besides in spite of a largercenter wheel the longitudinal displacing of it makes it possible toavoid the inconvenience of almost all 35 such fancy watches, namely,that the support of the contrate wheel is rendered unsafe by the passageof the center wheel.

In a fancy Watch of the type called baguette where the length ascompared to the width is 40 ordinarily greater than in the describedexample the eccentric position of the center Wheel pinion which placesthe barrel at the extremity oi the plate would be still more apparent,for in the said fancy watch having the pinion at the center 40 of themovement 2 to 4 millimeters of the length of the plate next to thebarrel remain nonutilized. According to the invention this place can beutilized for placing into the same watch a drivingtrain, an escapementand a larger bal- 5U ance. In certain cases it will be possible todispose the lever escapement on one side on account of the small spaceavailable for a normal escapement on a straight line.

The manufacturing of such watches for the reasons given will befacilitated, the quality will be improved and the manufacturing costdiminished.

The center wheel is as a rule connected with the balance G by theintermediate Wheels ZJ, C, c, D, d, E and the lever F. Only the twopallet stones are shown in Fig. 1.

Upon the center wheel pinion a is mounted with frictional contact awheel H which meshes with wheel O which, in turn, meshes with the cannonpinion J which is xed to the stud K. The cannon pinion J moves theminute wheel I the pinion M of which moves the wheel N. L designates thewheel for time setting. The longitudinal section shown in Fig. 2 showsthat there is no particular dimculty to dispose the driving gear and theescapement nor to obtain a flat movement. the same letters of referenceas corresponding parts in Fig. l.

In the fancy watch 9 x 2l illimeters of Figs. l and 3 it is possibleaccording to the invention to use for the third wheel, seconds wheel andescapement wheel two pinions of seven and one of six teeth, whileordinarily only three pinions of six teeth are possible.

It must be noted that in this working form the parts of the movementwhich make the quality and fix the price, to wit: the barrel, theescapement and the balance, have exactly the dimensions which willpermit them to be mounted in a plate 10 x 23.7 millimeters of theconventional type of movement when the center Wheel is disposed at thecenter of the movement. But here the plate is sensibly smaller, namely,9 x 21 millimeters.

In the working form of the Figs. 3 and 1 where similar parts are markedwith the same letters of reference as in Figs. 1 and 2 the wheelO isomitted. The minute wheel I substitutes said wheel and transmits themovement of the Wheel H which is concentric with the center wheel pinionto the cannon pinion J. Due to this construction the axes of the pinionb and the seconds pinion c are close to the minute wheel I. v The Fig. 7represents a watch movement of the type called baguette with acylindrical escapement. The arrangement of the barrel and of the centerwheel pinion allows the use of a larger driving train than is usual.Here also the minute wheel forms the intermediate member between pinionI-I and the cannon pinion J or the cannon pinion M. Here the arrangementof the .driving train according to the present invention makes itpossible to dispose the axis of the second-hand pinion on thelongitudinal axis y-y of the plate. This result cannot be obtained withthe generally used arrangement of parts.

The Fig. 8 represents the arrangement according to the present invention-applied to a fancy watch of the type tonneau where all the wheels arerepresented. Besides the whole series of parts already enumerated withregard to Figs. l to 7, an additional pinion u and an additional Wheel Vhave been intercalate-d here. These additional members transmit themovement from the center Wheel B to the pinion b of the third wheel. Inthis case the wheel H meshes directly with the cannon pinion J which isof course at the center.

In the shown arrangement the center wheel pinion is likewise out ofcenter and located within one of the two halves of the plate separatedby the transverse center line on which is also located the axis of thewatch hands. Directly due to this it Visrpossible to dispose not only alarge barrel All parts in Fig. 2 are marked withV of 11 lines, but alsoa proportionately large balance. In a watch of 8% lines of the designtonneau measuring 19.7 x 26.5 millimeters over all the contrivance ofplacing the center pinion out of center makes it possible to put in abalance of 950/ millimeters diameter which corresponds to a normal watchof lOl/2 lines. The presence of the additional wheel between the centerwheel and the third wheel facilitates greatly the distributing of parts.It is possible to keep all the wheels except the center wheel atasuflicient distance from the balance and the third wheel from thelever, so that these wheels do not interfere with the movements of thebalance. The pallets of the lever are well cleared and the mounting ofthe escapement is rendered easier.

Figs. 9 and 10 show a watch movement of the design tonneau from the sideof the dial and two ways of connection of the hand-setting gears withthe sleeve of the crown gear S.

In the Fig. 9 it is the wheel L which moves, by means of the minutewheel I, the cannon pinion J while in the Fig. 10 this cannon pinion ismoved by means of the intermediate wheels L, O and H. T designates thedrum of the barrel. The other wheels have the same letters of referenceas in the former examples.

In the Fig. 11 it is the wheel L of the handsetting mechanism which isintermediate between i the cannon pinion J and the wheel H which isfrictionally fitted on the center wheel shaft. The minute wheel I meshesthen only with the cannon pinion.

The Fig. V12 relates to a self-winding watch Where the arrangement ofthe barrel and of the center wheel pinion according to the presentinvention has been accepted. The figure gives a diagrammatical view ofthe gearing and the escapement with its balance. All the wheels aredesignated by the same letters of reference as in the precedingexamples. The bridges of the movement have been left out and thehand-setting mechanism whereof the stem is located in the transversecenter line Z-Z of the watch is only indicated by a rectangle I3representing the window for the sleeve with clutch and contrate teeth.

The winding weight IG is very powerful. It fills the whole thickness ofthe watch case in the largest part of the left hand division of the Fig.l2. This considerable advantage is a direct result of using anarrangement according to the present invention by having the centerwheel pinion put out of the center of the watch and a toothed wheelmounted with frictional contact for setting the hands.

The rectangular watch case with slanted or cut-off cornersI of thisexample measuring 21 x 31 millimeters possesses a barrel, a drivingtrain, an escapement and a balance of 101/2 lines; and all the wheels ofthe movement from the barrel to the escape wheel included and the axisof the balance are disposed on the one side of the plate the minor axisof the watch forming the limit. It is owing to the invention that thiscombination has been possible and that such a space could have beensaved for the winding weight I 4.'

rIhe Fig. 15 will help to explain the following statements. The windingweight I4 is rotatably guided on the pivot pin I5 by means of two bushese2 xed to the ends of a cannon e1 integral with said weight. This pivotpin is forced with one end into the plate and supported at the other endby a cock I6 which limits at the same time all axial play of the weight.The oscillations of the weight are transmitted to the ratchet wheel 2lby means of a pawl 2| and thence to pinion 22 integral with the ratchetwheel 2| and from here to a wheel 23 fast to the pinion 24 whichcontrols the ratchet 25 and the spring of the barrel.

The stop pawl, 26 pivoted at 21, is held engaged with `teeth of theratchet 2| by a spring 28 attached to a stud 29. The operation of thisworking example is easily understood from the described construction.

In the Working example according to the Figs. 13 and 14 the arrangementof the self-Winding movement of the driving train and of the escapementare the same as in the example just described. But here the center WheelB meshes with a pinion 32 riveted to a wheel 33 which is pivoted on astaff 35 i'ixed to a cock 36. The wheel 33 meshes With a seconds wheelpinion 34 at the center of the watch. This pinion is pressed upon thestaif 38 which carries the second-hand 39. A brake spring 40 is fixed toa stud fil which is held by frictional contact in the barrel bridge 3and adapted to regulate the friction of the spring 40 which bears upon acannon provided on the staff 38 right above the pinion 34.

The cannon K upon which the cannon pinion J is revolvably mounted ispressed into the plate l and carries near each end a bearing for thestaif 38. In this way the indications of the secondhand are exact forthe resulting friction takes oi the damaging eiect of the play betweenthe gears connected with this second-hand.

What I claim is:

1. In a watch of the character described, an oblong plate, concentricminute and hour-handcarrying spindles mounted at the intersection oi themajor and minor axes of said oblong plate, a toothed driving barrelpositioned on said plate entirely on one side of the minor axis thereof,a center wheel, a shaft carrying said center wheel and laterally spacedfrom the hands-carrying spindles, a center Wheel pinion aflixed to saidshaft and meshing with teeth on said barrel, said center wheel pinionand the shaft carrying the same being mounted entirely on the same sideof the minor axis of the oblong plate as the barrel, and a pinionfrictionally mounted on said shaft for driving said handsmarryingspindles.

2. In a watch of the character described, an oblong plate, concentricminute and hour-handoarrying spindles mounted at the intersection of themajor and minor axes of said oblong plate, a toothed driving barrelpositioned on said plate entirely on one side of said minor axis, acenter wheel, a shaft carrying said center wheel and laterally spacedfrom the hands-carrying spindles, a center wheel pinion affixed to saidshaft and meshing with teeth on said barrel, said center wheel pinionand the shaft carrying the same being mounted entirely on the same sideof the minor axis of the oblong plate as the barrel, hands-carrying andmoving mechanism, a pinion frictionally mounted on said shaft fordriving said mechanism, a balance wheel unit positioned entirely on theopposite side of said minor axis, and a gear train for transmittingmotion from said center wheel to said balance mechanism.

3. In a Watch of the character described, an oblong plate, a tootheddriving barrel positioned on said plate entirely on one side of theminor axis thereof, a center wheel, a shaft carrying said center Wheel,a center wheel pinion affixed to said shaft and meshing with teeth onsaid barrel, said center wheel pinion and the shaft carrying the samebeing mounted entirely on the same side of the minor axis of the oblongplate as the barrel, concentric hollow spindles mounted at theintersection of the major and minor axes of said plate and carryingminute and hour-hands, a pinion ainxed to the spindle carrying theminute-hand, a pinion frictionally mounted on the center wheel shaft,and intermediate gear means for transmitting motion from saidfrictionally mounted pinion to the pinion on said minute-hand spindle.

4. In a Watch of the character described, an oblong plate, a tootheddriving barrel positioned on said plate entirely on one side of theminor axis thereof, a center wheel, a shaft carrying said center wheel,a center wheel pinion affixed to said shaft and meshing with teeth onsaid barrel, said center wheel pinion and the shaft carrying the samebeing mounted entirely on the same side of the minor axis of the oblongplate as the barrel, concentric hollow spindles mounted at theintersection of the major and minor axes of said plate and carryingminute and hour-hands, a pinion aiixed to the spindle carrying theminute-hand, a pinion frictionally mounted on the center Wheel shaft,intermediate gear means for transmitting motion from said frictionallymounted pinion to the pinion on said minute-hand spindle, a balancemechanism positioned entirely on the opposite side of said minor axis,and a gear train for transmitting motion from said center Wheel to saidbalance mechanism.

5. In a Watch of the character described, an oblong plate, concentrichands-carrying spindles mounted at the intersection of the major andminor axes of said plate, a spring actuated driving barrel, a balance,intermediate gears and pinions, all having their axes mounted on oneside of the minor axis of said plate, and a weighted Winding mechanismhaving the actuating Weight positioned on the opposite side of saidminor axis of the plate.

6. In a watch of the character described, an oblong plate, an hour-handspindle, a hollow minute-hand spindle concentric with the hour-handspindle, a spring actuated driving barrel having teeth on the peripherythereof, a center wheel, a center Wheel pinion meshing with said barrel,a shaft carrying said center wheel and pinion, said center wheel pinionand the axis of said barrel being mounted entirely on one side of theminor axis of said plate, a pinion frictionally mounted on said shaft,gear Wheels for transmitting motion from said frictionally mountedpinion to said hollow minute-hand spindle, an escapement mechanism,"gear Wheels connecting the escapement mechanism with said center Wheel,the axes of all of said Wheels and of said escapement mechanism beingpositioned on the same side of said minor axis as said barrel, and aweighted winding mechanism having the actuating weight positioned onsaid plate on the opposite side of said minor axis.

7. In a Watch of the character described, an oblong plate, concentricminute and hour-handcarrying spindles mounted at the intersection of themajor and minor axes of said oblong plate, a toothed driving barrelpositioned on said plate entirely on one side of the minor axis thereof,a center wheel, a shaft carrying said center wheel and laterally spacedfrom the hands-carrying spindles, and a center wheel pinion aixed tosaid shaft and meshing with teeth on said barrel, said center wheelpinion and the shaft carrying the same being mounted entirely on thesame side oi.' the minor axis of the oblong plate as the barrel.

8. In a Watch movement for Wrist watches, an oblong plate, concentrichands-carrying spindles, a toothed driving barrel, a pinion meshing Withsaid barrel, a shaft transversely spaced from said hands-carryingspindles and carrying said pinion, and a second pinion on said shaft fortransmitting driving movement to said hands-carrying spindles, thebarrel and pinions being positioned on one side of an axis extendingtransversely across said plate and passing through the axis of thehands-carrying spindles.

9. In a Watch movement for Wrist Watches, an oblong plate, concentrichands-carrying spindles, a toothed driving barrel, a pinion meshing withsaid barrel, a shaft transversely spaced from said hands-carryingspindles and carrying said pinion, a second pinion on said shaft fortransmitting driving movement to said hands-carrying spindles, thebarrel and pinions being positioned on one side of an axis extendingtransversely across said plate and passing through the axis of thehands-carrying spindles, a center Wheel on said shaft, a seconds pinion,a shaft carrying the seconds pinion, a third wheel meshing with saidseconds pinion, and a pinion carried by said third Wheel and meshingWith said center Wheel, the third wheel and the shaft carrying theseconds pinion being mounted on the plate on the same side of saidtransverse axis thereof as the barrel.

10. In a Watch movement for wrist Watches, an oblong plate, concentrichands-carrying spindles, and a spring driven Watch movement including aplurality of gear Wheels and pinions and an escapement and balance unit,the axes of all of which lie on one side of an axis extendingtransversely across said plate and passing through the axis of thehands-carrying spindles. Y

HENRI COLOMB.

